31st March 2005: The 102-year-old record-breaking locomotive, no. 3440 City of Truro owned by the National Railway Museum, has returned to the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway (GWR).

This celebrated centenarian will stay on the line until the end of May. It is expected to be operating trains between the GWR's stations at Cheltenham Race Course and Toddington every weekend from 16th and 17th April through to the end of May.

City of Truro was built by the Great Western Railway at Swindon in 1903 and it is said to have been the first locomotive to smash the 100 mph barrier in May 1904. During its stay this grand old lady will take part in  'Day Out with Thomas' on 23rd and 24th April and the railway's Spring Steam Gala between 13th and 15th May. It then departs for runs on the main line and visits to other heritage railways, before returning to its home at the National Railway Museum in York

Ian Crowder, the GWR's Press Officer, says: "It's a great honour for us to host this celebrated engine once again.  When it was with us last year, it certainly drew in the crowds and we're often asked if it will be returning. Most people recognise names like Mallard and Flying Scotsman as 100mph-plus record breakers - but a century ago, City of Truro led the way by showing just what steam power could do."

But, he says: "City of Truro will be limited to 25mph on our line - but that's quite fast enough to appreciate the grace and elegance of this remarkable survivor from the days when steam locomotives were the fastest machines on the planet."

For more information about when City of Truro is running, visit the GWR's website at www.gwsr.com.